Vandal Vibe Newsletter

Happy New Year, Vandals!

I hope your holidays were restful and fun-filled. Students are returning to the Moscow campus despite the “snowmageddon” of the past week. Classes begin today.

This is also the time of year when prospective Vandals are making choices about whether and where to attend college. As satisfied customers, we know what their choice should be, and I am happy to report that alumni are stepping up in new ways to tell the U of I story.

Many of you may already know about our “Vandalize the Classroom” initiative. The brainchild of alumni chapter leaders at a retreat last summer, the project entailed sending U of I alumni who are K-12 teachers a package of bling to decorate their classroom and show their Vandal pride. With help from our partners in University Communications and Marketing as well as Strategic Enrollment Management, along with a healthy social media campaign run by the Office of Alumni Relations, we ended up vandalizing more than 1,000 classrooms.

The majority of those classrooms are in high schools in Idaho, but we also sent materials to elementary, middle school and high school alumni teachers throughout the state and around the country. If on average every Vandalized classroom serves 20 students, and I think that is a conservative estimate, at least 20,000 prospective Vandals are being exposed to our alma mater’s brand every day of the school year. That makes me very happy!

Another initiative sparked by the chapter leaders is a card-writing campaign. Currently, alumni have signed up to write and send more than 1,000 specifically-branded cards to students who have been admitted to U of I but are not yet enrolled to congratulate them on their choice and share their own success stories. That personal touch reaffirms what it means to be part of the Vandal Family.

U of I also is taking its story on the road, thanks to a project initiated by President Scott Green ’84 and implemented by our colleagues in Strategic Enrollment Management. Beginning later this month, university officials, often including President Green, will travel the state, stopping at Idaho high schools to make presentations about the value of a higher education, what it takes to afford college, what resources are available at our alma mater, etc. In some of those locations, alumni will join in the effort to help tell the story and celebrate being Vandals. I will keep you posted about the details of when and where the "Enroll Idaho" van will be.

Every new year brims with possibility, but 2020 is definitely going to be the year of the Vandal!

Go Vandals!

Kathy Barnard, '81
Executive Director
University of Idaho Alumni Association

P.S. If you’d like to help recruit students to U of I, please fill out the Alumni Interest Form. You can also nominate a specific student to join the Vandal Family through Grow the Gold.

Upcoming Alumni Events

Jan. 18 – Vandal Night with the Spokane Chiefs, Spokane, WA
Jan. 22 – Alumni Office Sign Dedication, Moscow, ID
Jan. 24-25 – Kappa Alpha Theta Centennial Founders Day, Moscow, ID
Jan. 25 – Palouse Chapter Bowling Night, Pullman, WA
Jan. 31-Feb. 1 – Vandal Ski Day, Grand Targhee Ski Resort, Alta, WY
Feb. 7 – Palouse Chapter Murder Mystery Night, Moscow, ID
Feb. 9 – Vandal Ski Day, Bogus Basin, Boise, ID
Feb. 13 – Eastern Wash. Chapter Basketball Pregame, Cheney, WA
Feb. 17 – Portland Chapter Basketball Pregame, Portland, OR
Feb. 21-22 – Vandal Ski Day, Lookout Pass, Mullan, ID
Feb. 28-29 – Vandal Ski Day, Brundage Mountain Resort, McCall, ID
Feb. 29 – Vandal Ski Day, Pomerelle Mountain Resort, Twin Falls, ID
March 6 – Phi Gamma Delta 100th Pig Dinner Weekend, Moscow, ID
March 16 – Junior Achievement Volunteer Opportunity, Boise, ID
March 20, 21 – Arizona Spring Training Baseball, Tempe/Mesa, AZ
March 22 – Arizona Chapter 13th Annual Golf Tournament, Phoenix, AZ

View more events on the alumni calendar.

Loss in the Vandal Family: Pete Isakson

It is a sad day in the Vandal Family. Pete Isakson '03, a longtime leader at the University of Idaho, passed away suddenly Tuesday morning.

Pete has worked as a tireless advocate for the university during two different terms. From 1998 to 2003 he served as the assistant athletic director for development, marketing and promotions. He went to work at Washington State University Athletics in 2003 and later worked for WSU President Elson Floyd. Pete returned to his Vandal Family in 2017 and served as the associate athletic director for revenue generation. Pete stepped in to serve as interim athletic director in 2018, which he performed with distinction. Since 2019, he continued to serve the university in Advancement, with a focus on student success and building our Vandal Promise scholarship fund.

Pete had a deep desire to create a positive environment, always leading with optimism and energy. His sense of humor, passion for student-athlete success and willingness to step into any situation to help will long be remembered.

Pete and his wife, Kelly, have three children. Both he and Kelly have served the youth of Moscow as coaches and mentors for many years.

Our condolences go to Pete’s family and friends and to all those who knew Pete. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. (Pacific) Monday, Jan. 20 at the Church of the Nazarene, 1400 E. 7th St., Moscow. A “post game” gathering will follow at the Latah County Fairgrounds. Wear Idaho Vandal or Moscow Bear gear.

Scott Green
President

Here's My U of I Breakthrough

By James Jordan '75, '80, '89

I was born in Moscow in January 1950 where I grew up until 1959. My father, Dr. James V. Jordan, was a professor of agriculture at Idaho. I attended many Idaho football games as a child at Neil Stadium and became a Vandal supporter.

My mother’s father was stranded in Australia due to World War II and became involved in the concrete industry. My father became interested in the industry as well so the family moved to Sydney, Australia, in 1959. I grew up and went to school in Sydney and graduated high school in 1968. My dream was to return to Moscow and attend U of I. In January 1969, I returned to Moscow as a freshman in Chrisman Hall. I went from summer weather in Australia to Moscow's 10 below zero and snow that was taller then me in places. Culture shock hit rather quickly, which resulted in not a very successful freshman year. I managed to survive. One of the saviors was the Fraternity of Alpha Kappa Lambda, which was a life-saving fit.

I graduated finally in 1975 with a bachelor of science in education. I returned Australia where I taught science in Canberra. In 1978, I returned to Moscow and completed a master's in guidance counseling and landed a job in the Meridian School District. After eight years I returned to Moscow and completed a specialist certificate in school psychology. In August of 1989, I moved my family to Townsville, Queensland Australia, where I worked as a guidance officer until my retirement in 2013.

Go Vandals!

Share your U of I breakthrough story

Alumni Programs Highlight

Over 1,000 packages went to Vandal teachers, now we want to see those Vandalized classrooms! Post a photo and tag @uidahoalumni to be entered to win an extra plush Vandal alumni prize pack. Make sure to like and follow our page, too. Submit photos by Jan. 20. Winner announced Jan. 21.
Post your photo >> (https://www.facebook.com/uidahoalumni/)

Join Vandals on the slopes across the state (snowboarders welcome too).

Our land-grant mission extends to each of Idaho’s 44 counties. Let’s show it with signs and building wraps along our state’s roadways.  

Alumni News

Gary Baker '67, Vandal Athletics Hall of Fame charter class, remembered.

College of Law graduate Neomi Gilmore '14, confirmed as district court judge by 14th Navajo Nation Council.

We held a little retirement party last week for a member of the Vandal Family that has served the university for more than four decades: the sign hanging at the entrance to the Alumni Office on the Moscow campus.

You may remember the carved wooden sign sporting the former “sunburst” U of I logo. Commissioned by Robie G. Russell ’73, ’78 and carved by New Meadows craftsman Vic Durden in 1973, the sign originally hung outside what was then the university’s Boise alumni office and Vandal store, which Russell managed. When the store, which was located on Capitol Boulevard between Idaho and Bannock streets, closed in 1975, the sign was moved to the entrance of the Alumni Office in Hays Hall. It graced the entry for 45 years.

The Palouse elements took their toll over the decades. Most of the paint on the sign was long gone; the wood weathered and cracked. It was starting to list to one side, and there was a little patch of moss growing on one corner. It was definitely time to make a change. But, you don’t just get rid of an old friend.

We have given the old sign a place of honor in the Alumni Lounge with a plaque explaining its history right underneath. Other members of the Vandal Family – including former alumni directors Dick Johnston ’53 and Flip Kleffner ‘55 – gathered to raise a glass to celebrate the old and honor the new. We sang the fight song and thought about the thousands of alumni that sign greeted during its tenure.

The new sign – shiny and bold in the renewed U of I colors – now hangs outside our door. Here’s to the thousands of new alumni it will welcome over the next 45 years.

Go Vandals!

Kathy Barnard, '81
Executive Director
University of Idaho Alumni Association

Upcoming Alumni Events

Jan. 31-Feb. 1 – Vandal Ski Day, Grand Targhee Ski Resort
Feb. 7 – Palouse Chapter Murder Mystery Night
Feb. 9 – Vandal Ski Day, Bogus Basin
Feb. 13 – Eastern Wash. Chapter Basketball Pregame
Feb. 17 – Portland Chapter Basketball Pregame
Feb. 21-22 – Vandal Ski Day, Lookout Pass
Feb. 28-29 – Vandal Ski Day, Brundage Mountain Resort
Feb. 29 – Vandal Ski Day, Pomerelle Mountain Resort
March 6 – Phi Gamma Delta 100th Pig Dinner Weekend
March 16 – Junior Achievement Volunteer Opportunity
March 20, 21 – Arizona Spring Training Baseball
March 22 – Arizona Chapter 13th Annual Golf Tournament

View more events on the alumni calendar. 

Here's My U of I Breakthrough

By Roy D. Merrill Jr. '55

While taking algebra, Professor Halderman called me in to say, "If you don’t get B or greater grade in this class, you will never make it through engineering." At that time, I was a C student, so I reorganized my studies so that algebra was the first subject I studied every night. And, thanks to my roommate, Dale Waters '53, who taught me to be able to take 15-minute naps and be able to study until 2 a.m. many nights, I passed algebra with a B grade, and I got better grades in all my other subjects almost, magically.

That incident was my turning point in school. To illustrate how important that incident was, later I received a scholarship while in the U.S. Air Force and obtained a master's degree in engineering at Ohio State University Extension at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. And later while working for the Lockeed Palo Alto Research Lab, I was awarded another scholarship to study computer science and control engineering at Stanford. Later, with four years of study there, I obtained an SU engineering degree (a Ph.D. with thesis rather than dissertation).

So as a consequence of Professor Halderman’s warning, I ended up with a BS(ME), BS(EE), MS(EE) and engineering degrees.

Best Regards,
Roy D. Merrill, Jr.
Share your U of I breakthrough story

Alumni Programs Highlight

Congratulations to Marianne Sletteland '09, College of Education, Health and Human Sciences graduate and special education teacher at J. Russell Elementary in Moscow. She is the winner of our Vandalize the Classroom photo contest and received a bag of alumni branded teacher necessities.

Thanks to the many teachers to participated!

Join Vandals on the slopes across the state (snowboarders welcome, too).
Learn More >>

There's no better way to travel than with Vandals. Check out this five-day, four-night Costa Rica trip for young alumni.
Find Out More >>

The Office of Alumni Relations is now taking submissions for its Vandal Business Directory. Be a part of the inaugural launch and help build the network of alumni-owned businesses!
Learn More >>

Alumni News

David Manz, '05, '10 computer science graduate has been inducted into the CyberCore: Scholarship for Service Hall of Fame for his outstanding commitment to excellence in cybersecurity. Manz serves as chief cybersecurity scientist in the National Security Directorate at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
Learn more about SFS >>

Matt Cook '13, College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences graduate has been elected president of the Local Executive Council for the Association of Flight Attendants Council 30 in Anchorage, Alaska. Cook uses his journalism and mass media degree to represent and resolve issues for the nearly 400 flight attendants based in the Anchorage area.

There is nothing better than when a good idea spreads. That is exactly what has happened with Vandal Ski Day.

The Office of Alumni Relations resurrected a single Vandal Ski Day at Brundage Ski Resort outside McCall four years ago at the request of alumni hungry to share the slopes with their fellow Vandals. Working with our great partners from U of I’s McCall Outdoor Science School (https://www.uidaho.edu/cnr/mccall-outdoor-science-school) (MOSS), we put up the Vandal canopy in the resort parking lot, hauled in the barbecue, grilled some burgers and dogs, fed about 100 Vandals, sang the Fight Song, took some pictures and enjoyed each other’s company.

Last year’s event at Brundage was bigger and better, and this year – largely due to some amazing members of the University of Idaho Alumni Association Board of Directors and strong chapter leaders – Vandals have five opportunities to ski and snowboard with their fellow alums. Grand Targhee was the first location for alumni in the southeastern part of the state; Vandals gathered there in late January. This past weekend, President Scott Green dusted off his skis to join us under crystal blue skies and sunshine at Bogus Basin outside Boise. Vandals up north will gather at Lookout Ski Resort Feb. 21. And Feb. 28 and 29, Vandals will gather both at Brundage in McCall and Pomerelle Resort outside of Twin Falls. More details about all of the events are available here (https://www.uidaho.edu/alumni/events/vandal-ski-day) .

We live in the most beautiful state in the union, with countless opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. Vandal Ski Days give members of our Vandal family a way to do what they love in places they love with people they love. What could be better than that?

Go Vandals!

Kathy Barnard, '81
Executive Director
University of Idaho Alumni Association

Upcoming Alumni Events
Feb. 13 – Eastern Wash. Chapter Basketball Pregame, Cheney, Wa
Feb. 17 – Portland Chapter Basketball Pregame, Portland, Or
Feb. 19 – Greek Alumni Council Meeting, Coeur d'Alene, Id
Feb. 21 – Coeur d'Alene Center
Feb. 21-22 – Vandal Ski Day, Lookout Pass, Mullan, Id
Feb. 25 – Boise Center GradFair, Boise, Id
Feb. 28-29 – Vandal Ski Day, Brundage Mountain Resort, McCall, Id
Feb. 29 – Vandal Ski Day, Pomerelle Mountain Resort, Twin Falls, Id
March 6 – Phi Gamma Delta 100th Pig Dinner Weekend, Moscow, Id
March 6 – Vandal Night with the Idaho Steelheads, Boise, Id
March 13 – Boise Grads of the Last Decade St. Patty's Day Party, Boise, Id
March 16 – 10th Annual St. Paddy's Day Party, Spokane, Wa
March 16 – Junior Achievement Volunteer Opportunity, Boise, Id
March 20, 21 – Arizona Spring Training Baseball, Tempe/Mesa, Ar
March 22 – Arizona Chapter 13th Annual Golf Tournament, Phoenix, Ar
March 29 – Portland Silver and Gold Event, Portland, Ore

View more events on the alumni calendar.

Help Us Vandalize Grain Bins, Elevators and Barns

Vandals are everywhere, in every community in Idaho, so let’s continue to make our presence known. One way we can tell the University of Idaho story, and reinforce that agriculture is our foundation, is to enhance the grain bins and grain elevators along our highways with gold and black lettering. We can transform our alumni-owned and Vandal-supported farms and barns with road signs sporting Vandal graphics.

Fill out the form on our website to volunteer your property or to identify an agricultural fixture in your community that would be ideal for a long-term Vandal billboard. All the property owner has to do is donate the space.

Learn More >>

Listen While You Work: Vandal Theory Podcast

The Vandal Theory podcast asks, “What gets University of Idaho researchers’ brains buzzing... besides coffee?” These award-winning stories showcase researchers exploring and solving real-world problems. With interviews and quick updates on all things Vandal, discover the world of U of I research with host Leigh Cooper.

Vandal Theory can be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher and wherever you find podcasts.

Search Episodes >>

Here's My U of I Breakthrough

By Martin E. Ross '79

In 1972, I was a new Ph.D candidate at a university that will remain unnamed. It turned out to be a miserable experience from which I was released in 1974. Deflated and angered at what, by all accounts, had been a politically motivated act, I felt my dream of becoming a university professor was over. Within a day after my oral exam, a fellow grad student suggested I consider switching over to the University of Idaho. I was reluctant at first, but within a day or two, found myself on the phone with John Bond, the acting dean of the College of Mines, inquiring if I could transfer over, and if he would be willing to be my dissertation adviser. He said he had no problem with me coming over, but I would first have to meet with George Williams, chair of the Department of Geology.

George was an incredibly affable man with a goatee and a twinkle in his eyes. Since I hoped to continue with the research project I had invested two years on at the other school, he wanted to be certain that would be okay with my previous adviser. When George hung up the phone, he said my ex-adviser was very happy to let me continue my project.

I successfully completed several courses at Idaho and continued my field work mapping Columbia River Basalts in the Troy, Oregon area. In the spring of 1975, I was hired by the department to fill in for a professor who had suddenly been appointed to a high position in the Department of Interior and was off to Washington D.C. I successfully completed my degree in the summer of 1978, at which time I became a father and accepted a teaching position at Northeastern University in Boston. I was tenured in 1983 and retired as a professor emeritus in 2018. Without the University of Idaho and the excellent faculty in the Department of Geology, my career path would have changed drastically.

Martin Ross '78
Professor Emeritus
Northeastern University
Share your U of I breakthrough story

Virtual Campus Tour

We know that once a potential student steps foot onto our beautiful Moscow campus, they're more likely to enroll and become a Vandal. What happens when a student isn't able to make the on-campus trip? We bring the experience to them with a virtual Vandal tour.

This 360 degree tour is narrated and includes videos and links to explore special spaces on campus.

Take a Tour >> 

Bright yellow school buses full of young musicians are as welcome a harbinger of spring on the Palouse as snowdrops and robins, in my opinion. It’s Jazz Festival Week on the Moscow campus, and some amazing music is in the air.

Every year, it seems, there is a something new to enjoy about the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival – and not just the fresh faces of those eager young musicians here to learn from the greats. This year, the new feature is an honor and distinction we all can take pride in.

The Lionel Hampton School of Music, under the leadership of school Director Vanessa Sielert '96, was named a GRAMMY Museum University Affiliate in 2019, making it one of only 16 such affiliates around the globe. The designation acknowledges and recognizes the exceptional quality and dedication of the faculty, as well as the history and stature of the school and the Jazz Festival. It elevates our alma mater’s music program status to one of the finest on the planet. A little closer to home, it also means several new workshops at this year’s festival.

Bob Santelli, the founding executive director of the GRAMMY Museum, is in Moscow. Over the course of the next several days, he will conduct workshops on topics such as “How to Win, Put on the Show, and Join the Recording Academy” or “Making of Grammy Music: What It’s All About.”

Just think about the small-town high school musician with great skills and big dreams tapping into that kind of knowledge, all while visiting the University of Idaho. Just think about your fellow alumni, who may have set foot on campus for the first time to attend the festival 20 years ago, getting to revisit the great experience and education they received. We have created a legacy of excellence that truly has impacted generations of Vandals.

In an ideal world, every Vandal alum would have the opportunity to drop what they are doing and head back to campus to enjoy the energy, fun and music of Jazz Fest. But, don’t despair if you can’t join us in person; join us in spirit. Put some Hamp on the stereo, pour a glass of wine and know that a whole new group of potential Vandals are learning just how special our university is.

Go Vandals!

Kathy Barnard, '81
Executive Director
University of Idaho Alumni Association

Upcoming Alumni Events
Feb. 28-29 – Vandal Ski Day, Brundage Mountain Resort, McCall, Idaho
Feb. 29 – Vandal Ski Day, Pomerelle Mountain Resort, Twin Falls, Idaho
March 6 – Phi Gamma Delta 100th Pig Dinner Weekend, Moscow, Idaho
March 6 – Vandal Night with the Idaho Steelheads, Boise, Idaho
March 13 – Boise Grads of the Last Decade St. Patty's Day Party, Boise, Idaho
March 16 – 10th Annual St. Paddy's Day Party, Spokane, Washington
March 16 – Junior Achievement Volunteer Opportunity, Boise, Idaho
March 20, 21 – Arizona Spring Training Baseball, Tempe/Mesa, Arizona
March 22 – Arizona Chapter 13th Annual Golf Tournament, Phoenix, Arizona
March 24-25 – GradFair, Moscow, Idaho
March 29 – Portland Silver and Gold Event, Portland, Oregon
April 4 – Vandal Bowling Day, Caldwell, Idaho
April 7 – Silver and Gold Day celebrating the founding of the Alumni Association
April 7 – Latah County Silver and Gold Celebration, Moscow, Idaho
April 7-8 – Vandal Giving Day – Details coming soon!

View more events on the alumni calendar.

Memoir Shares Friendship and Magic Behind Renowned Jazz Festival

The memoir “Hamp and Doc: Lynn Doc Skinner and the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival” tells the story of a remarkable event in the history of the University of Idaho and a story of an unparalleled friendship.

A longtime music educator at U of I, Skinner revolutionized the university’s jazz festival by bringing in legendary artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Ray Brown, Dizzy Gillespie and Lionel Hampton to give high school students an opportunity “to hear and learn from the greatest artists in jazz.”

Read More >>

M Here's My U of I Breakthrough

By Andy Resor '66

I grew up in St. Maries, Idaho. I was too small to be a logger so I became the first of our family to attend college. I originally started at the College of Idaho in political science but was floundering. After the first year while working summers for the Idaho Forestry Department, I met Bob Clark at Heyburn State Park one weekend. He convinced me to try his accounting class, and as they say, the rest is history. While in Seattle at an Idaho vs. University of Washington football game, I had an interview with The Boeing Company. They offered a dollar a day more than Idaho Forestry. I relocated to Seattle and worked in Boeing Finance for 38, years retiring in 2005 as the director of business management for the Aircraft Trading Unit of Boeing Commercial Airplanes the Used and Leased Aircraft unit of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.Thanks to Bob, a long and successful career was achieved.

Andy Resor
U of I Class of 1966

Share your U of I breakthrough story

Alumni Programs Highlight

We're on a mission to congratulate students who have been admitted to U of I, and we're looking for card-writing volunteers to assist in the effort. Volunteers can select 5, 10, 15 or 25 cards to complete, and we'll send you the cards and envelopes.

Sign Up >>

Alumni News

Lisa Grow '87 appointed CEO of Idaho Power. Grow has served the state's largest utility for 32 years.
Read More >>

Javier Gabiola '96 was appointed to the 6th Judicial District, serving Bannock, Bear Lake, Caribou, Franklin, Oneida and Power counties in Idaho.
Read More >>

Ray Stark '75 was named to Boise Metro Chamber Hall of Fame. He was selected for his everlasting contributions to the betterment of the Chamber and support of its mission to advocate for a vibrant economy and outstanding quality of life.
Read More >>

Greetings Vandals,

Members of the University of Idaho Alumni Association (UIAA) Board were early supporters of the new Idaho Central Credit Union (ICCU) Arena on the Moscow campus. Before any blueprints were finished or earth moved, they saw the potential for a new, dedicated home for a Vandal Alumni Club. The space that runs the length of the west side of the building on the second floor – complete with covered terrace as well as a great view of the basketball court – caught their eye and their imagination.

After careful consideration and due diligence, the board voted to invest in the new facility. In fact, they were among the first groups to put money toward the ICCU Arena’s construction.

Fast forward two and a half years, and that original vision is closer and closer to becoming reality. Mass quantities of dirt have been moved, and the structure is taking shape. Plans have been finalized, appropriate approvals won, and now the fun begins.

Members of today’s UIAA Board are helping choose how the space will be signed, designed and decorated. They are involved in conversations about what kind of technology should go where to allow alums to update their contact info, look up a former classmate or digitally scan through the list of UIAA Hall of Fame members and award winners. They have a committee already working on identifying possible alumni events in the space throughout the year, not just on Game Day.

We still have a way to go before the ICCU Arena is finished – fall 2021 is the official timeframe for opening. When that day comes, though, when the Vandal Family is gathered on the terrace enjoying a beautiful Homecoming reception, we all will have the members of the U of I Alumni Association Board to thank.

Go Vandals!

Kathy Barnard, '81
Executive Director
University of Idaho Alumni Association

Upcoming Alumni Events
March 13 – Boise Grads of the Last Decade St. Patty's Day Party, Boise, Idaho
March 16 – 10th Annual St. Paddy's Day Party, Spokane, Washington
March 16 – Junior Achievement Volunteer Opportunity, Boise, Idaho
March 19 – Vandalized Happy Hour, New York City, New York
March 20, 21 – Arizona Spring Training Baseball, Tempe/Mesa, Arizona
March 21 – Brunching with the Vandals, New York City, New York
March 22 – Arizona Chapter 13th Annual Golf Tournament, Phoenix, Arizona
March 24-25 – GradFair, Moscow, Idaho
March 26 – From the Palouse Hills to Capitol Hill, Washington D.C.
March 29 – Portland Silver and Gold Event, Portland, Oregon
April 4 – Vandal Bowling Day, Caldwell, Idaho
April 7 – Silver and Gold Day celebrating the founding of the Alumni Association
April 7 – Latah County Silver and Gold Celebration, Moscow, Idaho
April 7-8 – Vandal Giving Day – details coming soon!
April 17 – Spring Parent and Family Weekend

View more events on the alumni calendar.

Here's My U of I Breakthrough

By David Wood '70

I came to U of I from out of state because of the forestry school, thinking a forest ranger was what I wanted to be. It wasn't but a couple of summers with the Forest Service to convince me I wanted to head in a different direction. To be a school teacher became my focus.

Somewhere during my sophomore year I became discouraged and considered dropping out. Fortunately, I had Professor Terry Armstrong as my advisor. He was a great listener and motivator, and I became recommitted to my education. To this day, I recognize him as one of the top five individuals who impacted my life.

Thank you Dr. Armstrong...I taught high school biology for eight years upon graduation. I worked 12 summers as a smokejumper for the Forest Service during college and while teaching. My career turned to being a consultant for the Oregon Education Association for 20 years.

Some days I stop for a moment and think to myself...where would I have ended up if I had not spent that time with Dr. Armstrong? And then I realize how grateful I am for him and the directions I took in my life.

David Wood
Class of 1970

Share your U of I breakthrough story

Alumni Programs Highlight

Book Club selection for March-April: There There, by Tommy Orange. Named among the 2018 National Book Critics' circle Awards and one of New York Times Favorite Books of 2018, There There was chosen as the Common Read novel for the 2019-20 academic year.
Sign Up >> 

Looking for a new role and need a resume refresher or interview prep? U of I Career Services offers lifetime support to Idaho alumni.
Learn More >> 

Alumni News

As part of a team at the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University, U of I alumnus Ensheng Dong '16 helped develop an interactive world map that shows the status of the virus COVID-19. The map tracks the number of confirmed cases, and related data for all affected countries in real time.
Take a Look >>

Armond Hawkins Jr. '18 has been hired by the University of Southern California football program putting his public relations degree to work as a high school relations staffer.
Read More >>

Rachel Davis '20, Jackie Davis '19 and Ayomipo Kayode-Popoola '19 were tired of listening to podcasts from folks who had the whole adulting thing figured out, so they started their own. Take a listen to Your Best Year Yet - empowering young people to live their fullest lives right now.
Listen Now >>

Greetings Vandals,

Wow. What a difference two weeks can make. Since the last time I wrote, all classes have been moved online, commencement has been canceled and we have postponed or canceled all in-person alumni events. And, despite it all, our alma mater is still finding a way to educate the next generation of Vandals, thanks to whole groups of folks dedicated to making it work.

Here’s to the faculty, who in less than a week’s time, have moved their classes to online delivery only. I can only imagine the creativity and patience it must take to translate subjects as diverse as philosophy and biochemistry, electrical engineering and music theory, to a digital format.

Here’s to the staff working behind the scenes to make sure the technology is available to deliver courses online; that there is safe, comfortable space for students who need to return to campus to live, eat, work and study; and that financial aid, advising and other support system adjustments are taken care of, etc.

And, finally, here’s to the students – both those who have returned to campus and those who have opted to stay home and take classes. I am proud of them for not letting current circumstances stand in the way of their education. Thanks, too, to their families for helping them to navigate rough waters.

I hope that the coronavirus and its impact on all of us will soon be a moment in history we can add to our “and I lived through it” list. Until then, though, I remain amazed and humbled by the resilience and commitment of the Vandal Family. Stay calm, wash your hands and go Vandals!

Kathy Barnard, '81
Executive Director
University of Idaho Alumni Association

An update from President Scott Green on our response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The safety and health of our graduates and the rest of the Vandal Family is our top priority.

Upcoming Alumni Events

April 3 – Virtual Vandal Social: Cooking Class, online
April 7 – Silver and Gold Day, wear your Vandal gear!

For information regarding canceled or postponed events, visit the alumni calendar.

Memo from the President Regarding COVID-19

In light of the growing concern over the spread of COVID-19 and to keep our Vandal Family as healthy and safe as possible, University of Idaho will deliver classes online/remotely for the remainder of the spring 2020 semester. Classes will not return to face-to-face instruction. Faculty must prepare courses so they can be completed by students from any location for the remainder of the semester.

We know this is a huge disruption to our community. Slowing the spread of this virus is vitally important and we need to do our collective part. We will continue to provide quality education and shared experiences to the best of our abilities and within appropriate social distancing guidelines.

The transition to remote course delivery has many unknowns. Many universities across the country are doing this at the same time, which could impact delivery. We must be patient and flexible as we navigate the onset of online/remote education in the coming weeks. These are the plans we have in place currently knowing that additional restrictions and access to services on campus may be necessary in the near future.

Students
If returning to campus is your only option, facilities around the state remain physically open with some modifications, including the Moscow campus. If, however, you wish to remain away from campus and learn from home — which we strongly recommend — you can do so for the remainder of the semester.

University of Idaho Residence Halls are open and Vandals Dining will continue to offer safe options for meal services. If you choose to leave your residence hall for the semester, you have the option to cancel your housing agreement and check out. Housing and Residence Life will offer pro-rated housing and meal credits to your account. An email from Housing and Residence Life with additional details will be sent to all residents shortly. More information is also available on the U of I coronavirus webpage.

Students residing in a fraternity or sorority should contact their chapter leadership as soon as possible for information on their facility and any potential changes.

Additional campus support resources, such as Counseling Services, Academic Advising, Career Services, etc., will also be available for students. If you need support from any of these services, please call the respective office directly prior to visiting to schedule an appointment. Updates to these services will be posted on the U of I coronavirus webpage as they are available.

Student-employees should check with their supervisor about their work. Every effort will be made to help student employees maintain employment, which may mean a shift in work and/or work location, depending on the position. If you are not returning to work but receive work study or teaching assistant payments as part of your financial aid package, you will receive more information as it becomes available.

University Employees
University offices will remain open, so employees should continue working unless you are taking sick leave or approved time off. You may request a flexible working arrangement from your supervisor for COVID-19-related issues including illness, care of family, or caring for school-age children who are out of school. We know not everyone can work remotely due to the nature of their work. If you have questions, please talk to your supervisor.

Most university-related travel, foreign and domestic, is canceled. If your job or research requires travel, it must be approved by your unit supervisor and relevant vice president — this includes research trips, donor visits and all other travel. Only essential university travel will be approved.

Stay home if you are sick. If anyone in your family contracts COVID-19, all family members should self-quarantine according to CDC guidelines. If you run out of sick days, please contact Human Resources. They are developing options to meet the needs of all our employees and federal guidelines are changing to support you.

The university remains open for research and to researchers. Principal investigators and supervisors have the authority and responsibility to manage their research programs. This includes changes to access or approaches to allow for increased social distancing or deferral of lower-priority work. Additional information has been added to the university COVID-19 website and the Office of Research and Economic Development remains open and staffed to provide services to students, faculty and staff on research matters.

Human Resources has worked with our benefits provider to waive the co-pay fees for COVID-19 testing. Other healthcare charges (including the office visit) may still be incurred. More information is available on the U of I coronavirus webpage.

Campus Events
The President’s Coronavirus Guidelines for America restrict gatherings of groups larger than 10 for the next eight weeks. As a result, the university is canceling all events larger than this size during this time.

Unfortunately, these cancellations include the Spring Parent and Family Weekend as well as Spring 2020 Commencement. By making this determination now, we hope everyone is able to cancel any reservations and travel plans. The decision to cancel Commencement was especially difficult. Celebrating our graduates is one of our most important traditions and celebrations. We hope all Spring 2020 graduates can return and participate in the Winter 2020 or Spring 2021 Commencement ceremonies. We promise to make them special.

I personally want to say how much I appreciate our Vandal Family around the state and greater Moscow community. I am regularly questioning if we are doing all we can in a prudent and responsible manner for our collective health and safety. We are in uncharted waters — but we are not alone. Brave and Bold Vandals will get to the other side of this. Let’s be supportive, work together and stay healthy.

Keep Calm and Vandal On.

Scott Green
President

Join Dr. Blaine Eckles, vice president for Student Affairs and dean of students, and Dr. Torrey Lawrence, vice provost for faculty for an update on actions the University of Idaho has taken to reduce risk and support social distancing and get answers to your Vandal questions.

Friday, March 27 | 10 AM (PT)
Facebook.com/UIdahoDOS

Here's My U of I Breakthrough

By Tom Anderson '58, '61
This is a personal note about my honor to attend and graduate from the U of I College of Engineering and how it enabled my astonishing engineering career.

My father took it upon himself, without telling me, to find out what were the best civil engineering colleges in the Western U.S. including Cal Tech, UC Berkley, Colorado and all the rest in the 10 western states. The top five he was told by ASCE included U of I. That was special because he and my mom met and were married in Sandpoint and I could apply for a skiing scholarship there to help pay my out-of-state tuition. So I applied. I was accepted and also was awarded a fine skiing scholarship to join the winning Vandal Varsity Ski Team.

My engineering education at U of I was world class. It enabled me to build a wonderful engineering career working at Boeing (stress analysis on the 727), Battelle Memorial Institute (working on the Hanford Atomic Works cleanup) and Fluor Engineers and Constructors (first base isolated building for LA County and seismic design for the Trans Alaska Pipeline).

I would love to share my engineering stories with others to show, no, prove, that a U of I engineering education matches, if not exceeds, anything else in the U.S.

Go Vandals,

Tom '58, '61,
Academy of Engineers 2011

Share your U of I breakthrough story 

Alumni Programs Highlight

Wine shipped right to your door? Yes. With Vandals Uncorked wine club you get four fabulous Vandal-connected wines delivered to you twice a year.
Learn More >>

Alumni News

Hannah Marx '16 answered the call of the wild doing research in central Idaho. Her curiosity about alpine plants was inspired by the Sawtooth Mountains and her program allowed her the flexibilty to follow her passion.
Read More >>

After earning her master and doctorate from University of Georgia, Dr. Siân Griffiths '95 went on to teach creative writing at Weber State University. She has two books to add to your reading list that are set to be published this spring and summer.
Learn More >>

Greetings Vandals,

Remember that other time we celebrated the founding of the University of Idaho Alumni Association, but everybody was in quarantine and could only mark the day at home?

Yeah, me neither.

But, you know what? Silver and Gold Day 2020 actually may go down as one of the most meaningful for many of us, especially when you look a little closer at what we are celebrating.

On April 7, 1898, the – at that point – very small group of U of I alumni agreed that the bonds they had created while in school were worth nurturing. They agreed that staying connected was beneficial for them personally and professionally and, frankly, was a lot of fun. They created the official University of Idaho Alumni Association and the Vandal Family all at the same time.

Fast forward 122 years and those same tenets are in play, even against the very surreal backdrop of COVID-19. The Vandal Family is a lot larger today with more than 110,000 members, and we still are looking out for each other and our alma mater.

Consider, for example, the Vandal Community Relief crowdfunding drive. Over the past two weeks, we have raised over to help our students pay for unexpected travel, food and other needs they may not have the funds to cover. Certainly, it is an effort benefitting many on a personal level and demonstrates that, in times of need, the Vandal Family pulls together.

Some of the money raised will help Vandal physicians and other healthcare providers around the state get the latest info on the coronavirus through U of I’s Project ECHO tele-education program. It’s a professional benefit that fosters health and well-being in every part of Idaho.

And quarantined or not, you will not find a group of fun-lovers more enthusiastic than the Vandal Family. That’s why we have created an online way for you and yours to tap into some of the very best that U of I has to offer.

Vandal Family Connections features some practical tools for the times – Zoom backgrounds of the beautiful Moscow campus and tips from a fellow Vandal on how to make working from home productive and sustainable. The website includes activities for those future Vandals so many of you are homeschooling at this time, like activities developed by U of I’s 4-H educators. The lesson on making homemade slime looks like a dandy!

In the weeks to come, the site will feature an abundance of recipes developed by U of I dietetics students, since we all are cooking at home a lot more these days. And speaking of cooking, more than 80 Vandals will participate in a virtual cooking class led by alumna Keely Garrity ’06 Thursday evening – just one of a host of virtual alumni events in the works that will be listed on the site.

We also envision this new website featuring unique entertainment alternatives. Wouldn’t it be great to take a break and watch some beautiful performances from faculty and students in the Lionel Hampton School of Music, or grab some snacks and watch a re-airing of our favorite moments in Vandal Athletics? Stay tuned.

Vandal Family Connections is our invitation to you to stay connected virtually even if we can’t gather in person. Those founders of the Alumni Association would be blown away by the technology we have at our disposal to foster connection, but they would absolutely agree with and understand its value. Some things never change.

Happy belated Silver and Gold Day and Go Vandals!

Kathy Barnard, '81
Executive Director
University of Idaho Alumni Association

Upcoming Alumni Events

April 9 – Virtual Vandal Social: Cooking Class, online
April 13 – Mindfulness Mondays with Meggie, online
April 15 – Wine Down Wednesday, online
April 20 – Mindfulness Mondays with Meggie, online
April 27 – Mindfulness Mondays with Meggie, online

For information regarding canceled or postponed and virtual events, visit the alumni calendar.

Vandal Community Relief Campaign

We are fortunate at the University of Idaho to have so many compassionate and generous alumni and friends. Already, members of the caring Vandal Family have asked how they can help. As a result, we are directing our efforts to raise money for our fellow Vandals who are experiencing unexpected hardships and financial stressors during this uncertain time.View this message from Dean of Students Blaine Eckles regarding student need during this time.

Consider Giving Now

A New Type of Production

U of I’s costume shop sews masks for local medical professionals.

The hemming of pants, sewing of buttons and assembling of costumes. Three weeks ago, there was a palpable excitement and busyness among the stitchers in the University of Idaho’s Department of Theatre Arts (https://www.uidaho.edu/class/theatre) as they prepared for season finale production. Now, with all classes online and the final 2020 production cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak, the scene in the costume shop is a little different.

But, as the saying goes, the show does go on.

Read More >>

Stories of My U of I Breakthrough

Share your breakthrough moments with us.

• What course, instructor, project or relationship sparked an ah-ha moment?
• What have you been able to accomplish since graduation?
• Did you face a challenge during your academic life that altered your future?

Share your U of I breakthrough story

Alumni Programs Highlight

All alumni can take advantage of the 20% off alumni gear gift from the Vandalstore. Use code: SILVERANDGOLD upon checkout. Sale ends today at midnight.
Start Shopping >>

97% of our wine club members renew each year. Find out what makes our wine selections perfect for Vandal alumni, fans and friends.
Learn More >>

We're on to phase two of our card writing campaign to congratulate students who have been admitted to U of I. We're making another call volunteers to assist in the effort. Volunteers can select 5, 10, 15 or 25 cards to complete, and we'll send you the cards and envelopes.
Start Writing >>

Alumni News

Kate Holgate '01 selected as an Idaho Business Review Woman of the Year. After earning her bachelor’s degree in graphic design at the University of Idaho, Holgate started as a graphic designer with Stoltz Marketing Group. Holgate is now the creative director and vice president of Stoltz Marketing Group and continues to show her leadership skills in and out of the office.
Read More >>

Two-time Big Sky Player of the Year, Vandal golfer Sophie Hausmann '19 has earned a slot on the Symetra Tour — an LPGA developmental tour — in her pro-golf career debut.
Learn More >>

Mark Leslie '97 named head basketball coach at Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas.
Read More >>

Greetings Vandals,

A robust enrollment is at the heart of our alma mater’s future success, especially post-COVID. Predictions about the impact of the virus on college attendance nationwide are dire, to say the least. Fortunately, the number of applications and admitted students is up from last year at U of I. The question is how can we as alumni help persuade those potential students to commit to actually attending so they can receive the life-changing education they deserve.

Many of you already are stepping up to write cards to congratulate admitted students and encourage them to enroll. To date, more than 3,500 cards have been written and sent, and another 1,500 are in the works. Thank you, thank you for taking the time to do that – recruiters report students are loving this extra effort by the Vandal Family. Fingers crossed they love it enough to enroll.

Another way to help enhance enrollment is to ensure we reach our own – the children, step-children, siblings and grandchildren of U of I alumni. Not surprisingly, legacy students commit to attend our alma mater at a much higher rate than non-legacy students. In many cases, multiple generations of the same family are Vandals, a point of pride for the whole clan.

I just received the spring issue of Here We Have IDAHO magazine and absolutely love the picture of Matt ’11 and Anne Marie (Limbaugh) Carlson ‘11, both third-generation Vandals. What a great example of a deeply rooted U of I family. What a great legacy for their sweet little ones, Olive and Henry.

We have formalized and simplified the method for letting university recruiters know about legacy students. You may be familiar with the Grow the Gold page on the alumni website – it’s where you can identify any person you think should be a Vandal. We’ve added another button on the page specifically to identify legacy students, which provides another differentiator for recruitment.

You also can fill out a Request for More Information form to identify a potential Vandal. That automatically puts the prospective student on the list to receive marketing materials and assigns a staff member in Admissions to work with them.

As alumni, we can play an important role in student recruitment, and in this “all-hands-on-deck” moment in our history, I hope you’ll join me in helping to grow the Vandal Family every way possible.

Kathy Barnard, '81
Executive Director
University of Idaho Alumni Association

Upcoming Alumni Events

April 23 – Cup of Joe: Conversation with Bruce Pitman, online
April 27 – Mindfulness Mondays with Meggie, online
May 6 – Virtual Cooking Class #2 with Ampersand Oil & Vinegar Taphouse, online
May 26 – Cup of Joe: Conversation with Temple Kinyon, online

For information about events, visit the alumni calendar.

Vandal Community Relief

The outpouring of support for our students and health care professionals has been inspiring and heartwarming. As of Tuesday, April 21, alumni, staff, faculty, friends and organizations have donated more than $44,000 to the Vandal Community Relief crowdfunding campaign.

In addition, our VandalStore will donate proceeds from identified T-shirt sales, a local alumnus has made at least two trips to Costco to buy supplies for the Vandal Food Pantry curb-side pick up service and the Parking and Transportation Department will donate 50 percent of all University of Idaho’s parking citation fee payment revenue to the emergency fund until June 30.

We are indeed Vandal Strong!

A New Type of Production

The University of Idaho College of Engineering is collaborating with medical staff and colleges across the university to offer expertise and support in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our research is ongoing to boost supply of needed personal protective equipment (PPE) nationwide. The open-source designs for 3D printed face masks, face shields and ultraviolet C light sterilization systems are available and open to the public.

Learn More >>

Stories of My U of I Breakthrough

Share your breakthrough moments with us.

• What course, instructor, project or relationship sparked an ah-ha moment?
• What have you been able to accomplish since graduation?
• Did you face a challenge during your academic life that altered your future?

Share your U of I breakthrough story

Alumni Programs Highlight

97% of our wine club members renew each year. Find out what makes our wine selections perfect for Vandal alumni, fans and friends.
Learn More >>

How are Vandals connecting during quarantine? Find a variety of resources, tips and tricks at our Vandal Family Connections website.
Learn More >>

Alumni News

Shiloh Keo '11 is reportedly joining the University of Alabama assistant coaching staff under Nick Saben. The two-time All-Western Athletic Conference selection at the University of Idaho, twice earning team MVP honors, helped U of I win the 2010 Humanitarian Bowl title. Keo went on to play in the NFL with Houston, Cincinnati, Denver and New Orleans, winning a Super Bowl title in 2016 with Denver. He spent two seasons as the College of Idaho's defensive backs coach.
Read More >>

After graduation, Amy Agenbroad '18 worked for Idaho Senator Mike Crapo all the while dreaming of taking up dance once again. Her dream became reality in 2019 when she joined the Washington Redskins Cheerleading squad.
Learn More >>

Greetings Vandals,

We did it! An idea literally years in the making, the Vandal Business Directory launched last Thursday. Kudos and many thanks go to Office of Alumni Relations and Advancement Communications staffers Katie Dahlinger '05, Shane Snyder and Sandy Larsen '13 for making that long-time dream a reality.

The directory is an online listing of alumni who have self-identified as business owners and have opted to share their business information with the Vandal Family. There already are 100 Vandal businesses listed in the directory with most of them under categories of Legal and Finance, Marketing and Promotion and Business and Professional. Check it out at www.uidaho.edu/businessdirectory, and if you’re a Vandal who owns or leads a business, consider adding your enterprise to the list.

The advantages are many. For example, the Vandal Business Directory

• serves as a business-to-business network for U of I alumni
• supports the efforts of enterprising and entrepreneurial Vandals
• enables alumni, fans and friends to support alumni-owned enterprises
• creates a pipeline for student internships and possible employment

The last one is especially relevant right now as the U of I Class of 2020 prepares to graduate in one of the most uncertain job markets in decades. They need the full support of the Vandal Family as they try to land that first job or internship. I hope every Vandal – whether you own, lead or influence a business – will give your fellow alums the opportunity to succeed as an intern or employee. Let us know about these opportunities when you complete the Vandal Business Directory submission form or contact the friendly staff in U of I Career Services.

Go Vandals!

Kathy Barnard, '81
Executive Director
University of Idaho Alumni Association

Upcoming Alumni Events

May 6 – Virtual Cooking Class #2 with Ampersand Oil & Vinegar Taphouse, sold out May 12 – Cup of Joe: Conversation with President Green, online
May 15 – Alumni Association Board of Directors Annual Meeting May 26 – Cup of Joe: Conversation with Temple Kinyon, online 

For information about events, visit the alumni calendar.

Reporting on the Idaho Legislature

Three University of Idaho students – Riley Haun, Madison Hardy and Logan Finney - spent three months reporting on the Idaho legislature. This unique internship puts these students' names in bylines across the state.

Celebrate the Class of 2020

Our Vandal graduates are poised to continue a tradition of excellence yet they're entering an uncertain job market, an uncertain economy and they don't have their closest friends to lean on. That's where you come in.

Share your words of wisdom, cheers or messages of encouragement with the graduating class of 2020! Send us your messages by Sunday, May 10 and we'll package them up to share throughout the week.

Say Congrats >>

Make Masks for Students

Looking for a way to apply your sewing talent and help our returning students this fall? We need face coverings/masks to help support the health and safety of our students in August and through the school year.

Here are a few things to get you started:

• Download instructions to the pattern developed by two U of I instructors and watch a tutorial.
• Make your masks extra special with Vandal-themed fabric from the VandalStore or any major fabric outlet.

Please send masks/coverings by Aug. 1, 2020 to:
Office of Alumni Relations
875 Perimeter Dr. MS 3232
Moscow, ID 83844-3232

Alumni Programs Highlight

How are Vandals connecting while staying home? Find a variety of resources, tips and tricks at our Vandal Family Connections website.
Learn More >>

The Vandal Business Directory is for alumni who own businesses and for alumni and friends who are looking to support them. Searchable by geographic location and by industry category, you’ll be amazed by the ingenuity of our alumni and the networking opportunities available.
Learn More >> 

Alumni News

Vandal wide receiver, Jeff Cotton '20 is picked up as a free agent for the Los Angeles Chargers.
Read More >>

Sherry Ann Adams '01 has been selected as the Melba School District Superintendent. Adams has served as a principal in the school district since 2002.
Read More >> 

Since her graduation in 2019, Kelly Dopke has coached a youth basketball team, run a marathon became a certified EMT and is now on the front lines of care at a hospital in Southern California working toward becoming a doctor.
Read More >>

Share Your News

Career Support

Looking for a new career? Need help revising your resume?
Alumni of the University of Idaho have lifetime access to the U of I Office of Career Services (https://www.uidaho.edu/current-students/career-services/students-and-alumni) . Wherever you are in your career, we are here for you.

Check out these job opportunities:
Animal Feed Purchasing Manager I Wilbur-Ellis, Buhl, Idaho
Learn More >>

Instructor Faculty | University of Idaho, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Learn More >>

Electrical and Instrumental Engineer | Bayer, Soda Springs, Idaho
Learn More >>

Looking to hire a Vandal? Visit Career Services/Handshake site.

Greetings Vandals,

Where there’s a will, there’s a way, and judging by the activities of what should have been Commencement weekend last Saturday and Sunday, Vandals found a way to celebrate graduation, COVID-19 be damned.

With institutional ceremonies postponed because of social distancing and other guidelines, the newest graduates still managed to celebrate in style. They donned their caps and gowns, gathered with immediate family and friends and then posted pictures and videos to social media channels to share their stories and connect to the Vandal Family writ large. Faculty and staff added their congratulations with virtual versions of the Vandal fight song and “Here We Have Idaho.” It was an exquisite example of how to foster community and connection at a time when both seem nearly impossible.

I encourage the newest members of the Vandal Family to continue to use the connection tools readily available to them to fully leverage their new status as alumni. Check out the Office of Alumni Relations website and find the alumni chapter closest to you – wherever you land post-graduation. Update your email preferences to receive not only Vandal Vibe, but our alumni event emails, President Green’s Friday Letter and any newsletters your college or department offers. Be on the lookout for messages from the Graduates of the Last Decade group, and read them when you get them. Make sure we have accurate contact information for you – update it here if it changes.

And come August 1, when we have the opportunity to gather in person in the Kibbie Dome – with all safety precautions in place – join us and we’ll celebrate your accomplishments all over again.

Congratulations, Class of 2020, welcome to the family, stay connected and Go Vandals!

Kathy Barnard, '81
Executive Director
University of Idaho Alumni Association

P.S. The Vandal Vibe will take a break in June and July and will return to inboxes Aug. 5. We may keep in touch as needed sharing up-to-date news with a special edition, should the need arise. Have a wonderful, safe and healthy summer.

Upcoming Alumni Events
May 20 – Wine Down Wednesday with Clearwater Canyon Cellars, Facebook Live
May 22 – Vandal Family Paint Night with Wild@Art, online
May 26 – Cup of Joe: Conversation with Temple Kinyon, online
May 28 – Thirsty Thursday Trivia with the Moscow Alehouse, online
June 2-3 – Vandal Giving Day - details coming soon!
June 3 – Virtual Cooking Class #3 with Ampersand Oil & Vinegar Taphouse, online
Aug. 6 – Vandal Night at Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Boise, Idaho

For information about events, visit the alumni calendar.

State of the University Address
State of the University of Idaho 2019-2020, a year in Vandal country.

Welcome New Members of the Alumni Association
University of Idaho Alumni Association President, Catie Freeman

Last week, In the regular meeting of the U of I Alumni Association Board (UIAA) a new executive committee has been installed including:

• Catie Freeman '09, '13, President
• Sean Wilson '96, Vice President
• Nick Weber '02, Treasurer
• Travis Jones '99, '02, Member at large
• Randy Luten '83, Past President

Immediately following the regular meeting at the annual UIAA board meeting, two new members were installed to the Board of Directors representing Southern Idaho and the Southwestern Region respectively:

• Mallory Cook '10, education major
• Rhiannon Rickard '15, broadcast and digital media major

Thank you to outgoing board members, Emily French '11, and for the leadership of Randy Luten '83 who will continue to serve for one more year on the Executive Committee as past president.

Learn More >>

Upcoming Event Vandal Giving Day 2020
The Vandal Family has always come together in times of need, offering strength, courage and support for one another. Our students need their Vandal Family now more than ever so they can return safely in the fall and continue their education. Please consider showing your support by signing up to be a Vandal Giving Day ambassador to spread the word with your personal network and encourage gifts to student scholarships.

Contact Marie Duncan at marie@uidaho.edu or 208-739-0477 and save the date for June 2 and 3.

Commencement Story: Lizzy Klinker
Sights Set on White House

Lizzy Klinker wants to be the president of the United States. And the Fairfield, Montana native and basketball star believes the caliber of her degree from the University of Idaho will get her there.

“I guess I should have started planning the steps to get to the White House when I was in kindergarten,” Klinker said.

But at the time, she was preoccupied with her first love, basketball.

Read More >>

Continued Education Offer for Alumni
Members of the Class of 2020, as well as all U of I alumni, will have an expanded opportunity to continue their studies, thanks to a new offer from the College of Graduate Studies (COGS).

“These are unique times, which we could not have anticipated three months ago, and many students’ – both current and former – plans have changed,” said Jerry McMurtry, COGS dean. “Graduate school is an option that can advance an individual’s career and earning power throughout their lifetime and often leads to quicker career advancement.”

For Vandals earning their undergraduate degree this spring or summer, or for all alumni, COGS will waive the grad school application fee, letters of recommendation, and other departmental requirements in select programs across campus. Look for programs participating in the expedited admission process. If you don’t see the program you are interested in, please consider going to the regular Graduate Admissions website and apply, using the code ALUMNI to waive the application fee. More information is available by contacting staff in COGS at gadms@uidaho.edu.

Learn More >>

Make Masks for Students
Looking for a way to apply your sewing talent and help our returning students this fall? We need face coverings/masks to help support the health and safety of our students beginning in August and through the school year.

Here are a few things to get you started:

• Download instructions to the pattern developed by two U of I instructors and watch a tutorial.
• Make your masks extra special with Vandal-themed fabric from major fabric retailers.

Please send masks/coverings by Aug. 1, 2020 to:
Office of Alumni Relations
875 Perimeter Dr. MS 3232
Moscow, ID 83844-3232

Alumni Programs Highlight
It's a "choose -your-own-adventure" summer with three book options for our book club members. This virtual book club is always accepting new readers.
Make Your Choice >>

The Vandal Game Day T-shirt contest is open to anyone in the Vandal Family. The winning design will be featured as the official shirt to be worn at all game day events.
Submission deadline is May 31 by 5 p.m.
Start Creating >>

To ensure your Class Notes announcement (family additions, marriages, promotions, retirements and news) gets into the fall issue of Here We Have Idaho magazine, submit by June 12.
Submit Today >>

P1FCU presents the official debit card of University of Idaho Vandals. Open a checking account and flash your Vandal pride in the checkout line.
Learn More >>

Alumni News
Dennis Becker '99 has been named dean of the University of Idaho’s College of Natural Resources (CNR). Becker, a natural resource policy professor, earned his doctoral degree from CNR and has served as interim dean for the past two years..
Read More >>

Chandra Zenner Ford '88 has been named CEO of U of I Boise, in addition to her current role as senior associate leading strategic initiatives for U of I President Scott Green ‘84. Prior to rejoining her alma mater U of I last year, Ford served as the City of Boise’s philanthropy director.
Read More >>

Share Your News

Greetings Vandals,

We usually celebrate Homecoming in the fall, and I am looking forward to doing that with all of you this coming October. But, today marks a different Homecoming of sorts: a year ago today, Vandal C. Scott Green ’84 assumed the presidency at our alma mater.

His trek from New York to Moscow – with Joe Vandal in tow – was full of adventures well documented on social media. His first year on the job also has been full of adventure and unforeseeable challenges – dramatic budget issues to address and the coronavirus pandemic, just to name two.

I recently had the opportunity to visit with President Green and reflect on the past 366 days as 2019 was a leap year. Check out our conversation below.

KB: Congratulations on your first year as president! And what a year it has been. What has surprised you most about serving as president?

SG: Maybe not surprised, but I have been impressed at how our community has come together to tackle our budget problems and respond to COVID-19. I continually read about how other universities have a lot of internal strife in dealing with these issues, but our faculty and staff just got on with it. Excluding the impact from COVID-19 and one-time charges for our voluntary separation plans, we met our financial targets.

KB: If you had to name the top three best moments in the past year, what would they be?

SG: There’s no way I can pick just three!

• The first serpentine and bonfire for Homecoming. It just felt so good to be back home in Moscow.
• Crushing the previous Vandal Giving Day record, raising over $650,000 for student scholarships and related student success programs.
• After several years in limbo, unlocking the $10 million in state funds allocated to the Idaho Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (CAFE), followed by another $10 million in federal research monies.
• Seeing the first Vandal grain bin located in Picabo, Idaho, with the giant “I” and the words “Made for Idaho” painted on the side for all to admire (Thank you Pat Purdy!). I am excited for more to come.
• The women’s basketball victory against ISU that ensured they would play MSU in the Big Sky finals. I loved this hardworking team.
• Watching the installation of the 60-foot-long, 40,000-pound laminated wood beam that’s a key component of the roof structure for the ICCU Arena.

KB: If you had to name the three toughest moments, what would they be?

SG:

• Closing our campus.
• Closing our campus.
• Closing our campus.

Words cannot describe how that felt.

KB: As alumni, how best can we help you and the university?

SG: This is a time to support our university. We have been dealing with a significant budget deficit and a pandemic that has added to the storm. Our attitude and response to these events matters. We need to set aside issues that may get us fired up for a time (teams not winning enough, programs changing too much/not enough, disliking a dean/instructor/volunteer, etc.) and put our university first. I ask all Vandals to do these four things:

• Think positively
• Step up to help with recruiting students
• Support our deans
• Help our students by donating to scholarships to get them through this period

I am proud that many of our alumni are already doing these things (see my earlier comment about Vandal Giving Day), and encourage those tried-and-true Vandals who are always there for us to further help by speaking positively about U of I when they encounter nay-sayers. Positivity spreads and leads to more successes.

KB: What are you most looking forward to in the year to come?

SG: Students returning to campus. I do miss them.

Go Vandals,

Kathy Barnard, '81
Executive Director
University of Idaho Alumni Association

P.S. The Vandal Vibe will return to inboxes Aug. 5. We may keep in touch by sharing up-to-date news with a special edition, should the need arise. Have a wonderful, safe and healthy summer.

Upcoming Alumni Events

July 9 – Vandal Scholarship Fund Reception, Weiser, Idaho (canceled)
July 10 – Vandal Scholarship Fund Canyon County Vandal Scramble, Nampa, Idaho
July 21 – Cup of Joe: Conversation With Terry Gawlik, virtual
Aug. 6 – Vandal Night at Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Boise, Idaho (tentative)
Aug. 13 – Ada County Vandal Picnic, Boise, Idaho (tentative)
Aug. 20 – Inland Empire VSF Vandal Celebration, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

For information about events, visit the alumni calendar for the latest info.

Vandal Giving Day Thank You

We Vandals share our strength, our resilience and our support for one another.

Saving Lives Takes Engineering and Entrepreneurship
CatheterX Team receiving their prize at the Hollomon Health Innovation Challenge.

An interdisciplinary entrepreneurial team, including College of Business and Economics graduates Tyber Dodson '20 of Coeur d’Alene and Olivia Esser '20 of Harrison are working to patent and finalize a business plan for CatheterX, an innovative urinary catheter designed by engineering students in 2019 to prevent infections, save lives and reduce hospital costs.

The students worked with College of Engineering alumni Ed Hall '19, Amy Macias '19 and Elena Tiptop '19 to tackle the big hurdles including forming a limited liability corporation, filing patents and seeking Food and Drug Administration approval. By writing a plan complete with hurdles and costs, even if the numbers were not always attractive, the interdisciplinary team showed investors the realistic side of bringing this product to market.

Read More >>

Sparking a Career

College of Natural Resources Student Prepared to ‘Tackle Almost Anything’

Dillon Alexander spent his childhood exploring the juniper woodlands and ponderosa pine forests near his home in northern New Mexico. Now, he graduates with a degree in fire management from the College of Natural Resources at the University of Idaho, building on a fascination that began in his youth in 2000.

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Continued Education Offer for Alumni

Alumni, including the Class of 2020, have a special opportunity to continue their studies, thanks to a new program from the College of Graduate Studies (COGS).

“These are unique times, which we could not have anticipated three months ago, and many students’ – both current and former – plans have changed,” said Jerry McMurtry, COGS dean. “Graduate school is an option that can advance an individual’s career and earning power throughout their lifetime and often leads to quicker career advancement.”

For Vandals earning their undergraduate degree this spring or summer, or for all alumni, COGS will waive the grad school application fee, letters of recommendation and other departmental requirements in select programs across campus. Look for programs participating in the expedited admission process. If you don’t see the program you are interested in, please consider going to the regular Graduate Admissions website and apply, using the code ALUMNI to waive the application fee. More information is available by contacting staff in COGS at gadms@uidaho.edu.

Learn More >>

Make Masks for Students

Looking for a way to apply your sewing talent and help our returning students this fall? We need face coverings/masks to help support the health and safety of our students beginning in August and through the school year.

Here are a few things to get you started:

• Download instructions (https://www.uidaho.edu/cals/news-and-events/features/2020/face-masks-fcs) to the pattern developed by two U of I instructors and watch a tutorial.
• Make your masks extra special with Vandal-themed fabric from major fabric retailers.

Please send masks/coverings by Aug. 1, 2020 to:

Office of Alumni Relations
875 Perimeter Dr. MS 3232
Moscow, ID 83844-3232

Alumni Programs Highlight

Vandals are doers and often modest about their accomplishments. This is where we rely on the Vandal Family to lift up those who deserve recognition. Alumni awards include:

• Alumni Hall of Fame
• Distinguished Idahoan Award
• Silver & Gold Award
• Honorary Alumni Recognition
• Jim Lyle Volunteerism Award
• Brave and Bold Young Alumni Award

Nominations for the 2021 awards are due Aug. 1.

Learn More >>

Alumni News

Congratulations to Lisa Grow '81 for completing her first month as CEO of Idaho Power.

Read More >>

The Office of Alumni Relations' own Tim Helmke '95 has been elected president of the Moscow Chamber of Commerce for 2020-2021.

Share Your News

Greetings Vandals,

Can it really be August already? Much has happened these past three months, and now students are returning. And while that is “normal” for this time of year, things will be much different in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

President Scott Green ‘84 and his team have spent these past months doing everything in their power to make the reopening of the Moscow campus as safe as possible for faculty, staff, students and visitors. More than 1,000 colleges and universities around the country also are planning to offer in-person classes, including our sister institutions in Idaho as well as competitors in Utah and Montana.

U of I's Preparations include free testing for faculty, staff and students in Moscow with results delivered quickly by the in-house lab being operated by the University of Idaho and Gritman Medical Center. Students will be required to be tested before joining in-person classes or living in the residence halls.

Every fraternity and sorority chapter has submitted a detailed plan for how they will keep their residents safe – thanks to the Greek alums who have helped with that process.

Face coverings are already required to be worn in all university buildings. Thank you, thank you to the Vandal alumni who sewed and donated masks for students; we have received over 200 for the university to distribute. Every student, faculty and staff member on the Moscow campus will be provided a free mask and hand sanitizer when they arrive.

Contingencies are in place for students who test positive and need to isolate according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. Classrooms have been reconfigured, and classes rescheduled, to lower population density. Classes will be delivered in a variety of formats ranging from strictly in-person to strictly online and variations in between.

Classes will go all online after Thanksgiving break, and students are encouraged not to return to campus until the start of spring semester in January.

And those are just a few of the measures being taken.

Details of everything the university has done and is doing to help protect the health of students, faculty, staff and visitors are outlined at https://www.uidaho.edu/vandal-health-clinic/coronavirus. I hope you’ll take a moment to watch the videos and read through the Reopening Roadmap; the precautions our alma mater is taking are unparalleled among our peer institutions and nationally.

Plans to offer in-person instruction don’t come without some justifiable concern, anxiety and disagreement among segments of our Vandal community. And, yet, our mission is to provide access to a quality higher education on our residential campus. My hope is that we do what we as Vandals always do – pull together to creatively and constructively make it work,with the welfare of each other an dour university in mind.

Go Vandals,

Kathy Barnard, '81
Executive Director
University of Idaho Alumni Association

Upcoming Alumni Events

Aug.10, 17, 24, 31 – Mindfulness Mondays With Meggie, virtual
Aug. 13 – Thirsty Thursday Trivia With Louie's Restaurante, virtual
Aug. 14-15 – Vandal Biking Weekend, Wallace, Idaho
Aug. 18 – Cup of Joe With Adam Juratovac, virtual
Oct. 4-10 – Vandal Homecoming

For information about events, visit the alumni calendar. Check the Vandal Scholarship Fund website for the latest info.about VSF events.

Campus Open This Fall
The Healthy Vandals campaign is underway.

Recreating the Neighborhood

MFA student Deborah Hertzberg brings Mr. Rogers’ puppets to life in blockbuster film

Fred Rogers was an inspiration to many, starring on PBS’s “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” for 33 years. In November 2019, a new biographical drama, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” opened in theaters nationwide, and while the trailer noted that “It only takes one person to inspire a world of kindness,” it took a much larger team to recreate the classic TV set and the beloved “Neighborhood of Make-Believe.”

Deborah Hertzberg '20 was a member of that team.
Read More >>

Congrats Class of 2020
The class who have embraced the meaning of tried and true.

Alumni Programs Highlight

Show your Vandal pride and passion with a custom class ring.
Read More >>

Vandals are doers and often modest about their accomplishments. This is where we rely on the vandal Family to lift up those who deserve recognition. Nominate a Vandal grad for the 2021 Alumni Association Awards.
Learn More >>

Alumni News

Trevon Allen '20, has signed a rookie contract with Poland's professional basketball team Polpharma Starogard Gdanski.
Read More >>

Jim Craig '98, '01 promoted to University of Idaho General Counsel after serving four years as Deputy General Counsel.
Congrats, Jim!

Share Your News

Vandal Owned Business - Spotlight

John Paul Hansen '18 is currently the youngest graduate included in the Vandal Business Directory. This College of Engineering graduate started Axon Optics LLC, a business dedicated to engineering complex networking problems by using high-speed, free-space optics. We reached out to him to get the backstory of this ambitious Vandal and to learn more about his venture.

For the common person, can you describe an application or use for the Axon technology you’ve developed?

The Axon turns computer signals into focused beams of light that stream through open air, just like lasers! Network engineers can use my product to let computers in a data center communicate in new, exciting ways that are not possible using fiber optic cables or electronics.

What’s the best piece of advice you got when starting your business?

Backstory: My business partner’s Idahoan wedding was amazing, but I missed my flight back to Seattle by two minutes. On the next airplane out of Spokane, I was seated next to a Canadian ex-Navy Seal high performance life coach who gave me 45 minutes of insight that completely changed the way I thought about business. My biggest takeaway? “Before you do anything, tell yourself ‘I am going to approach this like a professional.” It sounds really dumb, but the truth is, it takes you out of the mindset of being limited, powerless or small. When you look for people to help you, don’t approach your friends. Think big. Find the best possible person for the job and do your best to convince them to help you. You’ll be surprised how often they say yes.

What class had the biggest effect on what you do now?

Kacy Pula’s social psychology class influenced me the most. She did a great job teaching me that there are ways of describing products and ideas that are naturally more persuasive to people. I use what I learned in her class every day to communicate effectively, and it has paid off a thousand times over.

Who was your favorite professor or staff member and why?

Annette Folwell is just the best. She knew about my company and believed in its potential from day one. As a matter of fact, at a certain point she learned how much time I was spending growing the business and found a way that I could earn credit for it as a capstone project. I logged the 149 hours required for the credit, and it ended up being one of the most useful experiences I ever had at U of I. Two years later, I’m still keeping up the habit of taking detailed business notes.

What has surprised you the most about being your own boss?

At first, I didn’t think that I would be any good at working with people or being a leader they could rely on. I just wanted to be an inventor. But as my company expanded over the past two years, I managed to surprise myself by stepping up and filling the leadership role as someone confident and prepared – maybe even as someone who really loves being in charge. It’s true that U of I has a legacy of leadership, and I’m glad I realized that I’m a part of it.

How did you become a Vandal?

I am a first-generation college grad, and one of the most important goals I had when exploring options for universities was to find a campus where I could feel like part of a community. The University of Idaho was rich with opportunities to get involved. I drove across the state for a Vandal event in April of 2014, made some great connections and at a certain point, something just clicked. U of I was perfect. It was as if I had been a Vandal all along.

Any other information you’d like to share?

Yes! We had our first-ever meeting with a big tech company July 29 , and it went outstandingly well! It’s hard to believe that it all started with a little sketch I made in my dorm. The best thing a Vandal can do is keep a notebook on hand, take their ideas seriously and make sure to follow through on things that seem like they have potential.

Search his and other Vandal-owned businesses online.

Browse Directory >>

Career Support

Looking for a new career? Need help revising your resume?
Alumni of the University of Idaho have lifetime access to the U of I Office of Career Services. Wherever you are in your career, we are here for you.